ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEM

ESTUARIES ARE BODIES OF WATER WHERE FRESH WATER IN FROM THE LAND MIXES WITH THE SALINE WATER OF THE SEA. THEY REPRESENT DYNAMIC COMBINATIONS OF FRESH WATER AND MARINE COMMUNITIES AND THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS. DUE TO THEIR HIGH NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS AND CHURNING ACTION, ESTUARIES  ARE EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE AND QUITE RICH IN PLANKTONS, CRABS, CLAMS, OYSTERS, AND FISH.

CHILIKA ESTUARY VIEW IN THE MORNING TO THE LEFT AND THE SUNSET VIEW IN THE RIGHT.

ESTUARIES ARE UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM POLLUTION AND COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION. IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES, ESTUARINE SYSTEMS ARE FORCED TO SERVE MULTIPLE PURPOSES ARE WATERWAYS, DUMPING GROUNDS, COOLING WATERS FOR POWER PLANTS, COLLECTION BASIN FOR SURFACE EROSION AND RECREATIONAL AREAS FOR HUMANS. AS A RESULT MANY ESTUARIES HAVE LOST THEIR PRODUCTIVE BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM.

THE INCREASING INTENSITY OF POLLUTION IN ESTUARIES ARROUND THE WORLD IS AFFECTING VARIOUS LIVING ORGANISM AND ACTING AS A THREAT TO THEIR LIFE.